Expect the ball to play and probably hit the ground, when Texas Rangers host Los Angeles Angels on Thursday in the final of a three-game American League West set in Arlington, Texas.
Los Angeles will start Jack Kochanowicz (1-1, 5.74 era) while Rangers will counteract with colleague Kumar Rocker (0-2, 7.94). Both players strike to contact and look for quick rounds created by ground balls instead of going for strikes.
Rangers captured the first two games in the series and used dominant pitching and fast hits from Corey Seager and Jake Burger to beat Los Angeles 3-1 on Wednesday. Seager had three hits and two RBI, and Burger added three hits and one RBI to support a solid start from Patrick Corbin (5 1/3 rounds, one run, five hits).
Three Texas labels combined to give up a hit over 3 2/3 shut -off rounds, with Luke Jackson who only needs six places to get the last three outs and earn their sixth rescue of the season.
Rangers Outhit Los Angeles 11-6.
The angels lost their third straight game and the second series in a row after winning their first four sets of the season.
Los Angeles needs Kochanowicz to be the plug and get the team back on the right track. He is 0-2 in two career appearance (both starts) against Rangers with a 4.15 era and has allowed 14 hits in 13 rounds against them. His last trip to Haugen was on Friday, when he gave up six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 rounds in a 14-3 loss to Houston Astros.
Kochanowicz uses his potent lowering to attract the beats to hit the ball on the ground. He has only nine strikes in 15 2/3 rounds over three starts this season.
“I definitely don’t value too much,” Kochanowicz said. “I know what my strength is, so I just play for it right now. If things develop things develop. But I’m really not worried about it right now.”
Rocker will make his first performance against the angels. His latest excursion was a 3/3-Inning-Stint in Seattle on Saturday where he handed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks in a loss of 9-2.
After retiring in the first round, Rocker allowed eight of the subsequent 14 founders to reach the base before being lifted with one out in the fourth.
“When (Rocker) was going to the quick ball – that’s where he gave up his hits – because he came behind on the bill,” said Rangers boss Bruce Bochy about Rocker’s start. “In predictable quick ball bills he threw fast balls. It usually doesn’t work so well when you have to do it consistently.”
Rocker has even fewer strikes than Kochanowicz – just six of 11 1/3 rounds over three starts.
At 11-7, Texas is tied with the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League.
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